WITH the start of winter less than two weeks away, the State Emergency Service (SES) has urged South Australians to prepare their home to withstand the impacts of severe storms and localised flooding.
Simple steps, such as ensuring gutters and down pipes are free of leaf litter and other rubbish, will help ensure the threats posed by wet weather are minimised.
Mount Gambier and District SES longstanding volunteer Mark Smyth said people need to clean-up now after already experiencing some heavy rain over the past couple of days.
“The best advice I can give you is to make sure your gutters and downpipes are clear, especially if you have children because they like to throw balls up there that can get caught in the downpipe,” Mr Smyth said.
“Have a look at the condition of your roof, because if it’s tiles, sometimes they will crack and water will leak through.”
With relatively mild weather forecast for the upcoming weekend, SES state duty officer Dr Sara Pulford said there was no better time to spend a few hours in the garden preparing the home.
“Apart from checking that gutters and downpipes are not blocked, we also suggest homeowners and renters check the condition of the roof of their home to ensure it is in good condition,” Dr Pulford said.
“Regularly trim back branches near your home and put away anything that might become airborne – things like trampolines, market umbrellas, outdoor furniture and garden tools.”
Dr Pulford said it was also timely to ensure insurance cover was up to date.
“Check that you have adequate cover for your home and its contents as well as your motor vehicle,” DrPulford said.
South Australians are being advised to call 132 500 if they require assistance from the SES due to storm-related damage.
If the matter is life threatening, call 000.
“Our volunteers are on standby to respond at any time of the day or night,” Dr Pulford said.
“However, we urge everyone to take some preparatory steps as we head into what is traditionally the busiest operational time of the year for the SES.
